International Flights at Gwangju Airport Blocked by Government
Relocation of Military Airport Takes Priority
Residents Face Ongoing Inconvenience Traveling Abroad
As the city of Gwangju's active efforts to secure temporary international flights at Gwangju Airport have fallen through, local residents are expected to continue facing inconvenience when using international routes.
According to the city on August 28, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport issued a final notice of "disapproval" regarding the launch of international flights. The ministry fundamentally prohibits irregular flights except for international sporting events or special occasions, citing safety concerns and budgetary burdens as reasons.
The city submitted a proposal for temporary international flights in April, but has not seen any significant change in the government's stance even after the inauguration of the Lee Jaemyung administration. Despite efforts by the local tourism industry to persuade the government, its position has remained unchanged. In particular, as the relocation of the Gwangju military and civilian airport has emerged as a major issue, the drive to attract international flights has weakened even further.
The reopening of Muan Airport is also uncertain. The schedule for reopening has become unclear as the announcement of the "concrete mound" investigation results by the Ministry's Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board has been postponed to the end of the year. As a result, residents of the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions will have to endure the inconvenience of using Incheon Airport or Gimhae Airport for overseas travel.
A city official stated, "We are prioritizing the relocation of the military airport, making it difficult to promote international flights," and added, "There is a need to come up with practical measures to address the inconvenience faced by local residents."
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